Democratic Lawmakers Make Case for State Fix To Federal Drug Plan Problems
February 7, 2006
Federal Drug Plan may throw state budget off by millions
AUGUSTA—Democratic lawmakers today held a press conference with Maine Senior Citizens to highlight two key bills designed to help Maine Seniors receive the prescription drugs they need following problems that have occurred with the launch of the new federal Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.
The Medicare Pt D Federal Drug Plan was supposed to provide elderly seniors with low-cost prescription drugs replacing MaineCare benefits and programs like the elderly low-cost drug program. But for many, the federal plan has not worked or vital prescription drugs have not been covered by the private insurers.
“These bills are about putting the needs of Maine people first. It’s clear the federal government put the needs of the pharmaceutical companies first when designing and implementing Medicare Pt D. In Maine we will do everything we can to make sure the health of our elderly and people with physical disabilities is not put at risk because of Medicare Pt D,” said Sen. Brennan.
Recognizing the shortcomings of the new federal drug plan, Health and Human Services Committee House Chair Hannah Pingree, D-North Haven, said “something had to be done to fix the federal plan, and since Maine has always been a leader providing affordable access to prescription drugs, it makes sense we would take action.”
Rep. Pingree added, “Maine was the first state to recognize the shortcomings of the federal plan, and stepped in to cover at great expense, those seniors who fell through the cracks. Our goal with these bills is to make sure that Maine Seniors don’t loose vital benefits as they continue to switch over to the federal drug plan.”
The Democratic Lawmakers also pointed out that they have been told by Federal Medicare Administrators that they will likely not receive millions of dollars in reimbursements for the prescription drugs the state has been covering until after the end of the state’s fiscal year. That means the state could be short millions of dollars as it works on its final supplemental budget for the fiscal year.
Since the launch of the federal drug plan, Maine has spent between $200,000 to $500,000 a day to cover problems associated with Medicare Pt D sponsored by the federal government and national drug companies.
In related news
More than 20 state legislators from across the country recently met at the National Legislative Association on Prescription Drug Prices Conference in New York City and voted unanimously to support a motion to urge Congress to remake the Medicare drug benefit. The proposal calls for the feds to make it simpler and have it be administered directly by the Department of Health and Human Services. The details of the legislators’ Part D replacement plan will be discussed further at its spring meeting.
High resolution photos, bill information, and addittional statments from Senator Rotundo, Senator Mayo, and Rep. Brautigam are now online at:
http://www.mainesenate.org/health/medicarepartd.htm
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